The Lake Erie 2020 series
The Lake Erie 2020 series is a limited collection of sculptures created between March 16 and April 19. Crafted from Lake Erie driftwood in Buffalo NY. These dioramas, abstracts and creatures transcend their origin and may take on a Celtic flare or southwest-monument-valley-feel. Everyone that gazes upon them pours their own stories into their forms. The names I have chosen for these pieces reflect Buffalo's special relationship and debt of gratitude it owes Irish immigrants. Lake Erie itself is literally "Lake Ireland". The shore the driftwood was pulled from is near what is called the "First Ward" and is just one of Buffalo's Irish communities.
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About these Sculptures
Artist and Designer Gregory J. Golda began pulling the dried driftwood from the shore when he returned to his hometown on April 15th 2020. At a breakneck speed the sculptures began coming together in his father's workshop in South Buffalo.
"Sometimes the shapes called to each other very organically. I tried whenever possible to keep sculptures to a minimum of pieces to evoke icons or animals. The relationship to water is evident in all of them. Some pieces look like they are still underwater and some pieces look parched and crying for water."
Golda studied design, scenography, art education and most recently completed another master's degree in multimedia journalism. He had been sculpting since high school but it was an accidental discovery when it happened.
"I struggled mightily in 2d design. I don't consider myself a very proficient painter or sketch artist but in our last project of my last year in high school we had to reconstruct an album cover in 3 dimensions with paper. I chose a Bowie album and couldn't believe how easily to the forms came to my hands. After that I eventually went back to design after music and took up set design."
In college, Golda, studied design and scenography. He said,
"I've always been completely in love with museum dioramas, dark rides at Crystal Beach amusement park and biology. These sculptures encapsulate those interests. Throw in the iconography of my Catholic school upbringing and you'll see where the edge comes from within these creations."
Golda teaches Communications and Multimedia Journalism at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut where he lives with his wife and children and his dogs who help sniff out good driftwood.
"Sometimes the shapes called to each other very organically. I tried whenever possible to keep sculptures to a minimum of pieces to evoke icons or animals. The relationship to water is evident in all of them. Some pieces look like they are still underwater and some pieces look parched and crying for water."
Golda studied design, scenography, art education and most recently completed another master's degree in multimedia journalism. He had been sculpting since high school but it was an accidental discovery when it happened.
"I struggled mightily in 2d design. I don't consider myself a very proficient painter or sketch artist but in our last project of my last year in high school we had to reconstruct an album cover in 3 dimensions with paper. I chose a Bowie album and couldn't believe how easily to the forms came to my hands. After that I eventually went back to design after music and took up set design."
In college, Golda, studied design and scenography. He said,
"I've always been completely in love with museum dioramas, dark rides at Crystal Beach amusement park and biology. These sculptures encapsulate those interests. Throw in the iconography of my Catholic school upbringing and you'll see where the edge comes from within these creations."
Golda teaches Communications and Multimedia Journalism at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut where he lives with his wife and children and his dogs who help sniff out good driftwood.
SHIPPING DETAILS
Buyer pays actual shipping and packaging. We will give a shipping estimate upon order confirmation. Pieces may take up to a week to ship.
All sculptures are carefully bubble wrapped and boxed in new boxes.
Because of the nature of the materials used in creating these sculptures, they are INCREDIBLY FRAGILE. Shipping must be insured and the all packages inspected immediately upon receipt. All sculptures will be bubble wrapped and supported in the package to the best of our ability. The driftwood is in varying degrees of decay and therefore some materials and debris will dislodge from the sculpture over time. Small pieces can be glued back in place usually with white glue or wood glue. Cyanoacrylate (crazy glue) should also work for small pieces.
All pieces have been secured to each other with decking screws where possible making the connections as secure as could be at the time of assembly. Large pieces were secured with lag screws and smaller pieces with smaller screws or brad nails. Most bonding points have been hidden.
Several pieces include fasteners original to the material like screws and nails. Where possible these have been sanded down but some sharp points may remain. It is best to handle these sculptures by the base only. Please do not lift a sculpture by any protruding pieces.
Wall mounted pieces include a hanging cable but this should be inspected and reinforced if needed at the time of mounting.
Buyer pays actual shipping and packaging. We will give a shipping estimate upon order confirmation. Pieces may take up to a week to ship.
All sculptures are carefully bubble wrapped and boxed in new boxes.
Because of the nature of the materials used in creating these sculptures, they are INCREDIBLY FRAGILE. Shipping must be insured and the all packages inspected immediately upon receipt. All sculptures will be bubble wrapped and supported in the package to the best of our ability. The driftwood is in varying degrees of decay and therefore some materials and debris will dislodge from the sculpture over time. Small pieces can be glued back in place usually with white glue or wood glue. Cyanoacrylate (crazy glue) should also work for small pieces.
All pieces have been secured to each other with decking screws where possible making the connections as secure as could be at the time of assembly. Large pieces were secured with lag screws and smaller pieces with smaller screws or brad nails. Most bonding points have been hidden.
Several pieces include fasteners original to the material like screws and nails. Where possible these have been sanded down but some sharp points may remain. It is best to handle these sculptures by the base only. Please do not lift a sculpture by any protruding pieces.
Wall mounted pieces include a hanging cable but this should be inspected and reinforced if needed at the time of mounting.
The workshop. This project quickly overwhelmed the basement and I had to move out to the patio. I worked for just about 40 days and created over 50 pieces by April 20, 2020.